BIG has guest curated the February issue of Taiwan Architecture Magazine, a special edition titled “Materialism” that explores the role of materials in shaping architecture. The issue brings together essays, lectures, and project features on several of BIG’s works in East Asia – including the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, Jinji Lake Pavilion, and K11 Gallery in Shanghai – examining how material choices, construction processes, and cultural context inform the development of these projects. The issue includes essays written by members of the BIG project teams reflecting on the design and construction processes behind the projects. In “Material Practice in the Architectural Building Process,” Architect Tseng-Hsuan Wei describes how design concepts evolve through coordination with engineers, fabrication methods, and on-site construction. In “Placemaking and Identity in Contemporary East Asian Architecture,” BIG Partner Catherine Huang reflects on BIG’s work in the region through the lens of her own experience as a Chinese-born American architect, exploring how cultural memory and spatial traditions are translated into contemporary architecture. Additional essays include “When Material Enters Architecture” by Architect Yongwon Jo and “Lingering Beneath the Canopies” by Associate Molly Hsiao Rou Huang, which share insights and personal anecdotes from the design development and realization of the projects.
